Tressie McMillan Cottom says the blues go beyond the beat and key. It’s a feeling born and inherited from the experience of Southern Black women. As Call & Response dives deeper into the blues, the sociologist and 2020 MacArthur fellow says she can hear the historical echoes of pain and urgency throughout Southern music -- and wants listeners to understand why they do too. For the playlist of songs curated for this week’s episode visit: https://bit.ly/cr-tressie

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

The Shirelles, “Mama Said”

Junior, “Mama Used To Say”

2Pac, “Dear Mama”

Gladys Knight and the Pips, “I’ve Got To Use My Imagination”

Dolly Parton, “Coat of Many Colors”

Odetta, “Mother’s Blues (Little Children Blues)”

Nina Simone, “Blues for Mama”